Is a Cat the Right Pet for You?

When it comes to pets, most people have four options: dogs, cats, small mammals or reptiles. All of them have their advantages or disadvantages, but in my opinion if you want love without all the maintenance, cats are your best bet and you won't need as much pet insurance for them either as say dogs.

Why do I say this? Well, dogs are very loving but they require a lot of walking. They also can be really smelly, (depending on the breed you get). In extreme cases they can turn out to be really dangerous. I read in the paper last month an article about a dog that went rabid and took its owners face off. The NHS paid for the cosmetic surgery to help her, but there were calls for tighter control over dogs at the time. And small mammals, while low-maintenance, tend to live very short lives. Rabbits and ferrets are a couple of exceptions, though they may not always be available, (or even legal), in some jurisdictions.

As far as reptiles, well their affections are not like warm-blooded creatures. They may develop a deep sense of trust for you, but as far as loving you I don’t believe it’s possible. You’ll never see a snake slither in excitement just because he sees you enter into the room.

But cats give you the best of everything. With them, you get a loving pet that’s relatively low maintenance. You also get an animal who’s going to live 10 or more years– something that’s not always guaranteed for small mammals.

In addition, if you are in a renting situation, landlords tend to be more flexible if your only pet is a cat. But if you have a dog, particularly a big one, you might have to look for another place. And this isn’t always easy, since pet-friendly apartments tend to be expensive and very hard to find.

In conclusion, if you’re having difficulty deciding which animal you want to keep as a pet, consider getting a cat. True, they aren’t quite as affectionate as dogs, but that’s only because they are such independent creatures. And this can be a good thing depending on your situation. Either way, don’t worry too much as cats will still let you know that you’re Number One on their list.

How To Pick The Right Breed of Dog For You

When it comes to shopping for a new dog, it is very important that you take into account the characteristics of the breeds that you are looking at. Just because you have fallen in love with a certain breed does not mean that it is going to be the right dog for you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we all are fooled into judging something incorrectly because of the way it looks. One of the reasons that as a polulation we buy cosmetics on such a large scale is because we really do know that people will treat us differently based on how we look. Don't let this happen with your dog - it is for life and you can't dump them the way you can a mis chosen girlfriend or boyfriend! The best thing to do is to start by looking at various breeds that do interest you. After you have a list of a few breeds that you like, start to research each and every one of them. The reason for this is because you may find that a particular breed is not as good for you as you would have first thought.

If you have young children or babies in the house, you are going to want to make sure that the breed you are looking at is known for being good with children. You will also want to consider how well a particular breed does with other animals. This is especially important for those people who have other pets or plan on getting more in the future. While some of these things may seem like common sense, many people tend to forget something very important and that is how much room and exercise the breed needs.

There are some dogs that love to just lay around all day and do not need a lot of room to run. These are the breeds that would be perfect for people who work during the day or who have an apartment. Dog breeds that need daily exercise and running in order to maintain a healthy state will not do well in such cramped areas. You have to make sure that you are getting a dog that will naturally fit in well with your lifestyle instead of trying to force it to happen. Once you start researching you will find that the perfect breed for you may not have been what you would have ever expected. Once you have found the breed you are going to go with, now it is time to look into some good pet insurance for those times when your dog gets sick. You want to keep your new dog happy and healthy!

Why Should You Train Your Dog?

Many people tend to think that their dog does not need to be trained because they think that it is better for the dog to be in it's "natural" mindset about life. While this seems like a good idea on the surface and those who think that way have the best of intentions, it is important for the dog and for you that the dog is properly trained. Why? Because you do not live in the wild. In the wild the dog would be a pack animal that would probably attack you if you entered its territory. Many of these instincts remain, so it is important that it includes you in its understanding of the world of things that are not the enemy(!). To give you an example, I read an article the other day that the NHS had paid out X amount of money last year on cosmetic surgery for people mauled by dogs. As part of this the dog was of course put down. This situation could have been avoided. If the dog is not taught to listen to your commands you may not be able to prevent a bad situation from happening or stop one that is already in session.

Your dog could very well attack an innocent neighbor or someone walking down the street. This generally happens when dogs are not taught their proper place and believe that they are the alpha dog. Aggressive behavior is not okay and therefore you should make sure that you are doing everything possible to prevent it from forming. If you notice aggressive behavior starting to form, you must take immediate action and have the dog properly trained. Seek professional help if you feel it is getting out of hand so that you can put an end to the bad behavior fast.

If your dog hurts a person or damages personal property because it was not properly trained, then you and your dog will suffer. You will face fines, medical or replacement bills, lawsuits, and your dog could be ordered to be put to sleep. Since all of this can happen, including the possible destruction of the dog, how is it fair or right to not train a dog? We are each the guardian of our animals so it is important that the job is taken seriously. Properly training your dog is the only way to make sure that you are completely protecting the dog and those around it. You do not need any special kind of pet insurance to do this, all training can be done from you.

Cat Exercise Wheels 101

Is your cat suffering from obesity? If so, it’s important you get them to lose at least 20 percent of their weight, if you want them to remain healthy. Now before you go setting up appointments with the Vet for weight loss surgery, understand that diet plays a big role in this, and so does exercise. But, if you’re having trouble getting your cat on an exercise routine, you could consider getting a cat exercise wheel.

What is a cat exercise wheel? As the name implies, it is a large wheel designed to get the cat to run in a circular pattern. It looks very similar to the exercise wheels given to hamsters and other small mammals. The only difference is that it’s much larger, as it’s designed to accommodate a housecat.

In terms of design, almost all cat exercise wheels are created with metal, making them extremely durable. Some may also have spokes in the back. If they do, usually the manufacturer will provide some type of covering, so that the cat won’t get harmed during their exercising.

As far as general operation, the device is pretty independent. Once the cat gets onto the wheel, it moves in conjunction with the animal. So, basically, as long as the cat is running, the wheel remains in motion. If the cat decides to stop, then the device will stop as well.

Now, keep in mind that actually getting the cat on the wheel might be difficult, at least depending on their personality. Curious cats might be drawn to it because it’s big and mysterious, while more cautious cats might stay away. In either case, you can try to encourage the cat by placing their favorite treats onto the wheel. Just make sure it’s far enough away that your cat will actually have to move in order to get it. Otherwise, the treat won’t make much of a difference.

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Quick shout out to stoneways insurance for giving me the best quote on renewing my insurance last week. Good one.

Why Dogs Lick: why do they lick?!

As smart as dogs are, they don’t have the type of resources that humans do. I mean, when we get dirty, we can just get up and take a shower, perhaps use a facial cleanser and we're as good as new again. Dogs don’t have that luxury. They also don’t have many options for communication, since they have no hands and they can’t talk. Fortunately, nature found a way to solve both problems with one behavior– licking.

That’s right–whether you love it or hate it, licking is a behavior that is hardwired into your dog’s psychology. In fact, it’s hard to imagine how a dog’s life would’ve been without it. This is especially the case when you consider the grooming aspect associated with licking. Without it, dogs in the wild would’ve been more susceptible to skin infections and other health problems, since their saliva acts as a healing agent.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that licking is always appropriate. If a dog has obsessive-compulsive disorder, they might lick themselves too much. As a result they end up harming their skin, which often becomes raw due to the abrasive nature of obsessive licking and sends them to a trip to the vets with the hopes that you have some good pet insurance.

Obsessive dog licking may also be socially annoying for the dog’s owners. Granted, it’s one thing when a dog kisses you– most pet owners enjoy that experience. It’s another thing if they are obsessively licking your guests, who may not share the same feelings. The same can also be said if the dog tries to lick at your food.

So, in these situations, your dog’s licking has actually gone beyond what nature intended. That’s why you should feel no shame in bringing the issue up with your veterinarian. They will take a further look at the problem, and help point you to resources or medications that will help modify your dog’s behavior.

In conclusion, dog licking is a natural activity that was necessary for the animal’s evolution. However, if the behavior is proving to be physically or socially harmful, consider getting professional intervention before things get worse.

Dressing Up Your Cat

Cats are beautiful creatures by nature. Their slick, long bodies are full of grace and beauty. Despite their natural appearance, some find it necessary to add to this beauty by dressing up their cat. Cats don't particularly like to be dressed up, but that is part of the fun.

There is a bit of planning that goes into dressing up your cat. Now, by dressing up your cat, I'm not referring to going to a shop to buy cosmetics or anything like that. I'm referring to buying or even making an outfit for your cat to wear. It will probably be hard to put the outfit on your cat, so make sure it isn't too complicated. You don't want to anger or upset your cat too much. The more you upset your cat, the harder it will be for you to get the outfit on, and the more stressed out the cat will be. You also don't want to be cut to pieces by the time you get your cat dressed. Velcro works best for cat clothes because it is easy to hook and unhook. Snaps would work OK, but stay away from buttons because your cat would need to hold very still for you get all buttons buttoned.

It is fun to dress your cat for the holidays. A brown or green sweater can make your cat into a reindeer or elf quite easily. Add some antlers or pointed ears to top off the costume. Cats hate hats, so have the camera ready to snap a picture quick before you cat rips it off!

If you want to bring your cat to a party you can make or buy a sequence dress with a matching collar. Then when or if the dress comes off, the collar will at least still be on. They also make cat tuxedos you can purchase if you have a boy cat.

The more your dress your cat, the more comfortable it will be in clothes. Start with something small and simple and let your cat wear it for a short amount of time. Each time, keep it on a little more. After a while, the cat will become trained to wear clothes and you won't have as many scratches from the whole process.

Felix the Feral Cat, lived, hunted, died by caravan

Unfortunately, due to irresponsible pet owners not spaying or neutering their cats or the fact that they don't have proper cat insurance or the money to get this procedure done, there has been a surge in the feral cat population. Many of these cats end up getting euthanized at the pound, while others get adopted out as pets. My very first cat, (Felix), was an example of the latter.

He was one of dozens of feral cats in my grandmother’s neighborhood. He came to know Grandma after she would put out food for the neighborhood cats. A friendship blossomed and Grandma decided to take him in. Over time, we fell in love with the cat too, so Grandma decided she would give him to us as a birthday gift.

Now, in terms of love, Felix was no different than any other house cat. He would rub up against our legs when he wanted to be held and he would get depressed if we were gone for a long period of time. There was even a time when he gave my mom a dead bird, an act that shows love and respect in the feline world, (even though it’s very strange to humans).

Yet, despite his intense love he couldn’t escape his feral roots. He was an alley cat down to the bone. If he wasn’t trying to kill mice, he was begging to go outside. He would purr and violently scratch on the door if we didn’t let him go. So, eventually we had to cave in.

For days at a time, Felix would roam around embarking on all kinds of feline adventures. We don’t exactly know what he did, but it was funny how he returned home with ‘girlfriends’, anxious to share his food with him. He was almost living the movie Lady and the Tramp, except he was a cat and well, this was real life. And, in real life not every story has a happy ending.

This is what happened with Felix, as he eventually got hit by a car, well infact a caravan. My parents had noticed it as we had left our neighborhood. They told my brother and I to close our eyes because they thought it was too traumatic for us to watch. I peeked anyway, and did see a dead cat– but I refused to believe it was Felix. I know that the drivers ran over and offered to make some kind of recompence, when my parrents refused they even tried to explain that they didn't mind and that their caravan insurance would cover the costs. They weren't pet owners, they didn't understand that it had nothing to do with the money.
Well, days turned into months and months turned into years. And to this day, Felix has never returned to that house. So, my parents were probably right– poor Felix lost his life in a car accident.

With that being said, what’s the main lesson pet owners should learn from this story? Basically, you need to be careful if you take a feral cat in as a pet. And, I’m not necessarily talking about pets who are in the pound, because not all of them started off feral. I’m talking about cats like Felix, who lived their whole lives as alley cats. With them, the desire to be free overrides any love they might have for you. So, unless you can afford specialized training, or have another setup where they can safely roam around, you may want to start off with a kitten or a grown cat who has lived a sheltered life all along.

No Dairy for This Moggie - is milk dangerous for cats?

We love cats and we want to give them treats as often as we can, but there are some treats which just aren’t suitable or are perhaps even dangerous for our feline friends. Milk is one of those treats, and while it’s classically associated with happy cats on TV and in films, it can actually make them quite poorly.

Cats don’t always know what’s good for them and even though they seem to enjoy cow’s milk, it actually has no nutritional value, and frequently causes stomach upsets and diarrhoea which could result in dangerous weight loss in serious cases. This is caused by lactose in the milk, something that some humans can have trouble processing, but nearly all cats are incapable of digesting. This intolerance might not be immediately evident in some cats, and in fact some might be lactose tolerant, but even then you can be sure that it’s not doing them any good!

So what are the alternatives?

If you simply must give your cat milk as a treat, then most cat food manufacturers offer it in a specially manufactured lactose free form. Still, this treated milk is not suitable as a replacement for water and isn’t even a particularly nice (just ask your cat!)

Alternatively, there are all kinds of posh biscuits and tinned foods which your cat will love to eat instead of their usual meal. Serving these as a weekly treat will give your cats diet some much needed variety, and provide a shot of higher quality nutrients which are usually added as supplements to the mainly corn and rice based standard cat foods. It might even help your cat insurance rates!

My own personal favourite is to give my cats a little bit of butter. They go crazy for that stuff, and you’ll be able to tell how much they love it compared to plain old milk. Be aware though that it does still contain a trace amount of lactose so use it as a very rare, very delicious treat!

How to groom your cat

Most of us think that cats are pretty good at grooming themselves. After all, they are constantly licking themselves all over (sometimes even in embarrassing spots!). However, your cat needs a bit of assistance from you in order to stay clean and fresh. Here are some ways to groom your cat:

• Bathe your cat at least twice a month, but more often when needed. This can be done by running some warm (but not hot!) water in the sink, moistening a sponge, and cleaning your cat with the sponge. Never submerge your cat. Not only will this make them miserable, but they have a chance of drowning. You might want to seek assistance from a friend when doing this, as sometimes cats can be very resistant to getting wet.
  


• Use a soft wire brush to comb your cat at least once a week, but preferably more. Not only is this beneficial for your cat but also for you! It will help your cat’s coat to look as shiny and neat as possible and it feels great to them as you comb with a soft wire brush. This will also cut down on shedding and rampant hair loss all over your home.
  


• Trim your cat’s nails. A lot of owners cringe at this idea, but it can be quite simple once you get your cat used to it. If you have never done it before, pick up your cat and gently rub his or her paws. Rub each claw for a moment or two, talking gently or petting her as you do so. After a few days of this, take a nail file and gently file the first paw. Rub the rest of her paws. Continue with the next paw later until you are finished. Make it a gentle experience for her and she will not fight when it is time to file those nails. Avoid using clippers to cut your cat’s nails unless you are experienced in this area, as you can cause injury to your cat.




• If you have pet insurance, consider asking your veterinarian if they can file nail capping or grooming sessions with the insurance. These services can ease your grooming responsibilities.